What Gun Did You Really Want . . . Before You Didn't

[oldgold]

For years I lusted after a Browning FN-380. Finally found one, shot it three times, bandaged up my 'slide bites' and sold it the next day.

Wanted a Sig 226 until I picked one up. Felt like two bricks glued together.

 

[PedalBiker]

Lever actions. I really wanted a BLR, but just couldn't buy one. I had a Marlin 336 for a while - great gun, but I lived in a shotgun only state.

Then I moved to a rifle friendly state and ditched the rifled barrel for my Mossberg. I don't miss shooting slugs form a light weight Mossberg.


My Army days cured me of AR envy, and full auto of any sort for that matter.


Meanwhile I'm attracting bolt actions like a magnet.

 

[Eric F]

Wow where do I begin?

Browning bdm
fnfal(centery arms)
Daewoo Dr-200(great until parts dried up)
G-3 clone(not h&k)
S&W 686+(the extra bullet isnt worth the reload frustrations)
Enfield revolver in 38S&W
50-90 sharps
Ruger Vaquero in 44 mag

well I think thats about it.........

 

[MyGreenGuns]

Desert Eagle .50 - "Bullet tooth Tony" made me want one, I shot 2 rounds. Crazy recoil and complicated innards. I dont really want one anymore.

Glock (anything) - I was told by everyone that this was the end-all-be-all of guns. I shot every version I could get my hands on. They don't point naturally for me, I have to tell myself to put the muzzle down. I dont want that in a panic situation. No thanks.

Pocket guns - These seemed like the perfect carry items. My fat hands dont like the skinny grips, I have shot several and always seem to put it down after a mag or two. I dont want a carry gun that I dont want to shoot.

Someone said "Pump Shotgun"! Really? .. Really?!

 

[Legionnaire]

Several I "really wanted," bought, and then discovered I really didn't; don't miss any of them:

Mini 14 Ranch Rifle
Ruger Deerfield
Glock 27
S&W 1066
1911

 

[wow6599]

S&W 686 SSR Pro Series. $800 gun with a hole on the side I could just not get past. Traded for a NIB 1894C......one of the last North Haven, JM proofed ones. Still happy I made that trade.

 

[Jonah71]

I forgot one....the Kahr CW 40.

 

[redbeardsong]

Springfield XD. When researching my first carry gun purchase, it seemed like the holy grail... until I held one. Now I'm practically repulsed by them.

Same with the Judge.

 

[Cap'n Jack Burntbeard]

The infamous desert eagle, the SIG 556, the XD series, and remington 700s.

 

[ChCx2744]

This thread is depressing...You guys have mentioned guns that are actually very reliable and nice. Have you ever considered accepting the fact that you may have just gotten stuck with a lemon and your limited experience with said gun should warrant a second chance? Of course this doesn't apply to those who have owned, shot and handled said gun(s) for a while and genuinely find fault in said gun(s)...But for those who are discrediting them after a single experience...I think you guys should reconsider.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Wanted a Glock 17 when I was a lot younger. Finally got to shoot one and was completely underwhelmed. Fine firearm but not for me.

Kel-Tec P3AT. Whats not to like about a tiny, easy to carry, inexpensive pocket gun? Nothing except mine was a lemon and besides which it was just plain unpleasant to shoot!

 

[jman74]

Glock 22. Owned one for a while. Tried to like it. It just didn't point well for me and I couldn't shoot it well. It was 100% reliable. Never felt I needed to try another one.

 

[230RN]

But for those who are discrediting them after a single experience...I think you guys should reconsider.

Two things here.... one is the fact that the style from different samples of a particular gun does not change. If it don't fit, it don't fit. Two is that they shouldn't be putting out lemons in the first place. It ain't like a car or a TV set. Guns are simple devices and should be shootable right out of the box and not have to be sent back for adjustments. (Not necessarily true for custom and target guns. A cetain amount of fiddlin' and fussin' is expected in that case.)

Terry, 230RN

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Bulgarian Makarov. I wanted one, so my wife bought me a fancy "Special Edition" Arsenal with fat walnut grips. The thing is just no fun to shoot. I'd rather shoot my .44 Magnum than that little biter.

It's probably just the grips, but I really need to just sell the gun and get something else, like a Commander size 1911.

 

[The_Next_Generation]

I've seen this thread up for a while, so I figured I'd let you guys know what I think:

When I was looking into capable bolt-actions, I was set on the Remington 700 SPS Tactical in .308. When I went to my local armory, I had the attended pick one off the wall and hand it to me. It was downright ugly. Of course, this is strictly subjective, but the rifle seemed unrefined. I am aware that it may have been designed with the "function before looks" mentality, but the finish and overall workmanship of the rifle seemed sub-par. I am not an expert on these firearms, nor am I an experienced shooter. But on a strictly surface-level, this rifle is no longer as attractive as it once was.

My .02..

The Next Generation

 

[devans0]

I bought a small pocket gun, a brand new S&W bodyguard 380. It was everything that I wanted in a deep conceal pocket gun until I had an 80% FTF the first time I took it out. It is being fixed, but I won't feel like I can count on it if I ever need it. It's going as soon as it is repaired.

I also bought a Sig Sauer 290. I like the pistol, but hate the unwieldy button to operate the laser sight. The laser is going.

I bought a Glock 17L on a whim. It was being unloaded off the UPS truck as I walked in. I loved the sight picture. It has become my favorite tack-driver handgun. It is going too.... to the range.

 

[EBShooting]

Glock 17. I was in the gun business from the time I was 18 until I was 23. So I had handled just about every current production handgun. I was convinced that the G17 was the one for me.
Turned out that I could not shoot it worth a darn. Was all over the paper, yet other could shoot it just fine.
Yet a G21 shoots great for me. Maybe it is the bigger grip? Needless to say, I only put at most 6 boxes through it and sold it off.

 

[hAkron]

In one of the greatest lines of Doublespeak ever uttered this side of 1984 -- An otherwise serious candidate for high office once tried to explain his voting record on an issue by saying that he "voted for" a particular bill before he "voted against it."

In this vein, although I have never run for elected office, there are several guns that I really wanted before I realized that I didn't. These include a Remington 31 Riot Gun, which I convinced myself I really wanted . . . before I convinced myself that I really didn't. In fact, not only did I not buy the 31, I have sold two of the riot guns I did buy.

Any other: "I really wanted it . . . before I didn't"

I thought the SR9c was double plus good until I learned of the mag disconnect and that awful rooster crown of an LCI. After that I decided there are better options. Ill probably still get one though if I can find one super cheap.

 

[Rail Driver]

Ruger Blackhawk. I love the look of the cowboy style guns, but after handling it a little bit and shooting it once I got rid of it.

 

[gym]

I learn something about them even if I don't care for them, I don't dwell on it, after all the guns I have had I know right away if I am keeping it or not. Some it just could be the size or the trigger, or the round. Once you hone in on what works best for you, unless you are a collector there is no reason to keep looking. There are a half dozen guns or type of gun that work for me, for instance I picked up a new Rhino last week, I just put it down, not for me.For $900.00 I would have a dozen guns I would choose before a 5 shot revolver.I thought it might tickle my fancy but as soon as I picked it up I didn't like it.I would get a 1911 rather than that.Maybe an EMP.

 

[Gryffydd]

Ruger Blackhawk. I love the look of the cowboy style guns, but after handling it a little bit and shooting it once I got rid of it.

The Blackhawk may be single action, but I sure wouldn't call it cowboy style. Have you done much shooting with SAA clones or similar guns?

 

[Rail Driver]

The Blackhawk may be single action, but I sure wouldn't call it cowboy style. Have you done much shooting with SAA clones or similar guns?

No, I haven't had the opportunity, though I've always wanted a SAA or Colt Peacemaker style revolver in .45LC

It's the shape of the grip on the ruger and how it behaves when firing that I don't like.

 

[Inebriated]

I second whoever said AR's... particularly, M4 setups. Sure, it's maneuverable and you can drink some of that MagPul kool aid, but I have absolutely no use for more than one stock position (which would be all the way out on a collapsible), I wouldn't use it for HD, it wouldn't sit in the car and get beat up because of how expensive they are (relatively), and I like 7.62x39 > 5.56x45 by quite a wide margin for a similarly-sized gun. AR's just aren't my thing.

Unless we're talking a more original look... I do want an A1 setup, but may settle for an A2.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Yes, I was looking through the cabinet front glass at a Taurus vs. a Smith when Taurus first came out.

Wow!
That low price?
Is this thing new?

"Yes, it is brand-new, the box is right over there" says the gun store owner. He continues to take the new Taurus out to show me.

I look at the rough edges and the machining lines and see that it is made in Brazil.

Suddenly, for some reason, I decided on the Smith at the higher price. Sometimes you get just what you pay for.

 

[230RN]

hAkron

I thought the SR9c was double plus good until I learned of the mag disconnect and that awful rooster crown of an LCI. After that I decided there are better options. Ill probably still get one though if I can find one super cheap.

I have a couple of guns with that damned mag safety. Damned annoying, frankly, notably in my PPK. I'm gathering materials together to make a wooden faux magazine to reach that stupid lever in the frame to defeat it.

For a while, my sig line on one of the boards was: "Magazine safeties are a design defect," or something to that effect.

Snarl.

Inebriated:

I second whoever said AR's... particularly, M4 setups.

That would be me. Glad to hear someone else thinks the AR platform stinks.

Snarl.

Terry, 230RN